Hampstead Activity Nursery

Hampstead Activity Nursery Christ Church, Hampstead Square, London, NW3 1AB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 12 October 2017 24 April 2015

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 Staff deployment is good. Staff work effectively between the indoor and outdoor areas of the nursery, providing close supervision and supporting children in their play and learning.  Teaching is effective. Staff work hard each day to set up a stimulating environment indoors and outdoors. Children choose from a good range of resources and activities that meet their current needs and interests. Children make good progress in their learning from their initial starting points.  Staff have strong partnerships with parents. They have established effective systems for sharing information to ensure parents are aware of children's current learning, to enable them to complement development at home.  Children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported well. Partnerships with other professionals are in place to help meet their individual needs.  Children and babies show they are happy and relaxed. Staff are highly responsive to

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This provision is good

children's needs and give children who are new to the nursery sensitive support and reassurance to help them to settle.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The new manager has not fully embedded the process of self-evaluation to support her and her staff to precisely identify and review any areas for improvement.  Staff do not consistently make the most effective use of assessments to focus more precisely on what children need to learn next to help them to continually make the best possible progress.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 embed and develop the process of self-evaluation to support the manager and staff to precisely identify and review any areas for improvement  improve the ways staff use assessments to focus more precisely on what children need to learn next to help them to make the best possible progress.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff's interactions with children during a range of activities, indoors and outdoors.  The inspector spoke with the manager, staff and children at appropriate times.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector spoke to parents and took account of their views.  The inspector sampled a wide range of documentation, including staff's suitability checks, children's development records and attendance registers.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff know how to identify the signs and symptoms of possible abuse. They are aware of the procedures to follow should they have any concerns, including whistle blowing. Staff have regular supervisory sessions, which the manager uses effectively to identify training and development needs. The training they undertake has a positive impact on the quality of their teaching. For example, following training regarding parental involvement, parents were asked to complete a survey. From information taken from the survey, key persons improved feedback to parents regarding their children's day. Staff check all indoor and outdoor areas to ensure that any potential hazards are identified and minimised to keep children safe.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff observe children and plan suitable activities that, overall, support the next steps in their learning. Group activities are planned well to help children listen to each other and the staff. Staff extend children's understanding of mathematics. They use rhymes and creative activities to support counting. Activities, including story time and singing, are used well to enable children to make good progress in their language and communication development. Older children confidently share their ideas and experiences. Younger children babble and make sounds that staff expand on to enable them to start to put words together. Staff make good use of the environment around them to support children's learning. For example, children count the 'bongs' that the church clock makes and identify different sounds as they listen for aeroplanes and birdsong.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff manage children's behaviour well. They support them to learn about sharing and being kind to each other. Children eat healthy snacks and lunches. They are physically active each day, indoors and outdoors. Staff are good role models who provide constant praise and encouragement. Children behave well and display a high level of self-esteem. Staff provide lots of activities and plan routine times of the day well to support children to be able to 'have a go' and do things for themselves. Staff are very responsive to the needs of babies. For example, they sing and chat to them as they change their nappies and children giggle with delight as the staff respond to their babbling.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children of all abilities develop the key skills needed for school and future life. This includes children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language. Children acquire the necessary skills to prepare them for their future learning, including starting school. Older children learn to link letters to the sounds they represent when they join in with songs and actions and follow a story. Children's understanding of mathematical concepts is developing well. For example, they discuss the size and shape of different blocks as they make a tower and count out the correct scoops of flour and weigh ingredients during a dough making activity.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 148737 Local authority Camden Inspection number 1089756 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 33 Number of children on roll 16 Name of registered person Activity Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 24 April 2015 Telephone number 020 7435 0054

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reference number

Hampstead Activity Nursery registered in 2000. The nursery is situated in Hampstead, in the London Borough of Camden. The nursery is open each weekday from 8am to 6pm. The nursery closes for one week during Easter and two weeks during both the Christmas and summer holiday periods. The provider receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged three and four years. There are 10 members of permanent staff working with the children, including a full-time cook. Two staff, including the manager, hold relevant early years qualifications at level 4, three staff hold relevant early years qualifications at level 3, and two staff hold relevant early years qualifications at level 2.

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reference number

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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reference number

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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reference number

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reference number

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reference number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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